R-Dome flimsy?
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
Forum Discription: Have a warranty or service experience to share?
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5411
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 8:57am
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Topic: R-Dome flimsy?
Posted By: Happy Tripping
Subject: R-Dome flimsy?
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 9:22pm
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Hello. I did a 'search' but didn't pull up anything re my problem. I've put up my new R-Dome maybe 3 times, the last time, I ripped out the nylon stitching of the tab holding one of the grommets that the ends of the flexible front pole sets into. I'm 67 years old and 150 pounds so muscle wasn't the issue, I don't believe. I don't know if this is a design issue or a quality issue, unique to me. I suppose I could have an awning place stitch it back up, and maybe reinforce the other one, too. It's still within the warranty period, I believe, I bought it this spring, but shipping it back seems to be a big hassle. |
Replies:
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 11:56pm
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put dome up 3 days ago 3 days of solid rain. Excellent cover. what a buffer! GO MIZZOU ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: 2McPods
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2014 at 9:32am
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Used our dome this past weekend in Pymatuning,Pa sat through rain storm and sleet. Stayed dry and had a small heater to keep warm why all the other campers were forced to stay inside..lol Everyone at the camp ground was amazed by the dome and the pod, even stopped to watch us take it down and hook up the pod. we love the dome and pod   ------------- Everything Happens 4 A Reason Pat & Viki McCartney 2015 171 {2McPods} 2014 F150 Pittsburgh, Pa |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2014 at 10:37pm
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4th season down, still no dome damage, been up/down at least 40 times.
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Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2014 at 8:25am
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In five years of 'podding, I've never had a quality/materials issue with my r-dome. Also, in five years of being online in r-pod forums, I've never seen anyone else complain of "flimsy" r-domes or of poor r-dome manufacturing. If you did get a lemon, contact your dealer about a warranty replacement. An r-dome isn't cheap and its well worth the little bit of effort to send it back. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: NormanHill
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 at 10:57pm
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I had to have the dome replaced after the first use and haven't put the new one up yet, but will next weekend. Same as your experience, ripped at the track when a dog ran into the side. Maybe the quality has deteriorated since the other folks purchased theirs? |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2014 at 1:53am
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The wind took our dome down a couple of times, ripping the channel that the shock cord runs through. It has also bent some of the poles that I had to repair and replace, never had a grommet rip out. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Unclewillis
Date Posted: 22 Oct 2014 at 9:52am
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I just got my R-pod and we have used it as much as possible. We also put the R-dome up every time just to get used to using it. Here's a couple of things I have noticed.
Even in a small breeze, it's hard to do alone. It blew down in a middle of the night desert wind that blew up out of nowhere but it was undamaged. We staked it down as much as possible the next night and if it's done properly, it is solid as a rock in 25 mph wind gust!!! ( I bought extra heavy duty stakes too) I have not noticed any damage to the fabric. Has anyone noticed though, it's hard to open the door and not have the top of the door drag across the fabric? I don't really like that. ------------- Daddy, Mommy and Daughter. BlackJack & Keno (boston Terriers) Rpod 176T 2015 Nick: ouR-pod |
Posted By: Shadow
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 9:11pm
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Hi Unclewillis I have added bungie cords that I connect on each of the 2 outside roof supports. This has the effect of pulling the rods slightly closer together and has removed the door zipper drag completely. Shirley and Carol R-pod 179 ------------- S&C 2015 R-POD 179 2010 Toyota Highlander |
Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 4:23pm
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Thanks, Outbound, and the rest, too. The stitching on the tab apparently is the problem, it is only 2, one over and one back. I am told Forest River is sending me a replacement. As an aside, Couch's has been very helpful on this matter, they are NOT PERFECT, but in my experience a lot better than the area dealers.
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Posted By: headcold
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 10:18pm
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During an July Pod trip on to the Beartooth Plateau (MT), my R-Dome
offered
merciful protection for three other parties and myself from the swarms
of mosquitoes. It was the first time I took the Dome out of the bag.
However, in the course of the trip, the Dome ripped in several places:
on the the netting which rests on the steps and in the left-hand, upper
corner that attaches to the Pod. The suction cups were of marginal use,
so I rigged what you see in the picture.The rope rigging worked better
than the cups, which have an annoying habit of popping off with the
drastic temperature swings and winds common on the Plateau. I ended
taking the ripped Dome to a local tent-maker who sewed up the rips and
sewed in patches of nylon ballistic cloth.. We'll see how that works
next year. It's -11F here this evening so there won't be any more
podding for a few months. uploads/2390/domeaid.pdf - uploads/2390/domeaid.pdf |
Posted By: johnandwendee
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 10:58pm
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Hi S & C,
We are not responding to your R dome comment but we noticed that you have the same Rpod (179) as us and pull it with a similar vehicle...we pull with a Honda Pilot. We have been experiencing significant sway on Texas highways and wondered if you have experienced any sway at all? We have a sway bar which we have adjusted but it has not helped a lot. Other than that....we are very pleased with our 179. Happy travels! Wendee & John ------------- John and Wendee Bracebridge, Ontario Canada |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2014 at 12:50am
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I think Headcold has a 177.
As far as the r-dome, we have ours for over 4 years, no rips no zipper problems. We use it every time we camp. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Unclewillis
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2014 at 2:06am
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We recently put our R-dome and tent bed (176T) to the test in the rain. The dome and tent bed withstood an all day rain just fine. We played cards underneath the dome during the rain at night. No Leakes or drips what so ever. It was great. Then the front moved through and the temp dropped into the mid 30's and the wind went away. This led to conditions ripe for dew and fog. Once the dew settled on the dome it seemed to leak alot and everything was super saturated under the dome. Had to use a broom to knock of the water before the sun came up and it dried off.
Not a huge dilemma but I wanted to throw that out there. ------------- Daddy, Mommy and Daughter. BlackJack & Keno (boston Terriers) Rpod 176T 2015 Nick: ouR-pod |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2014 at 8:12am
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Uncle Willis, The dome didn't leak. It cooled faster than the more solid, and thermally stable things around it, and condensation formed on the dome fabric, inside, and out. Happens. Natural phenomena. ------------- |
Posted By: Shadow
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 8:45pm
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John and Wendee Just read your post today Nov 20. We haven't had any trouble with sway and have pulled in some strong side/ head winds. We have the resistance sway bar fairly tight but not over done. I saw on an other post that someone had an accident with a Highlander due to sway that started on a downhill corner - a lot of discussion about using the brake controller to support driving thru. Shirley ------------- S&C 2015 R-POD 179 2010 Toyota Highlander |
Posted By: headcold
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 9:40pm
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John and Wendee: I used to pull the 177 with a Toyota 4-runner (currently towing with a Toyota Tundra) and had no sway problems in the highest of winds in the wide-open spaces where I live. However, I used (and continue to use) an Equalizer hitch which kept the 4-Runner, with its relatively short wheel base, straight and level, now sway. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/ The Tundra with an appreciably longer wheel base, could probably tow without the sway/equalizer hitch and not suffer sway, but I always put on the Equalizer. Headcold
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Posted By: headcold
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 9:41pm
| I should have said "no sway" rather than "now sway." We need an editing feature on this blog. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 9:54pm
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Upper-right of each post, Post Options > Edit Post. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: headcold
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2014 at 7:30pm
| Thanks. Didn't know I could. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2014 at 11:40am
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I think the Edit feature goes away after someone quotes your post. Something like that. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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